Assocham suggests industrial estates for SMEs

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) on Tuesday said that the Karnataka government must build industrial estates at Peenya, Bommasandra, Whitefield and other locations and lease them out to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to spur growth in the State that had slipped to fourth position among the four southern states in recent years.

Releasing the “Action Agenda for the New Government of Karnataka” that was submitted to the State government last week, co-chairman of Assocham Southern Regional Council J Crasta said that 93 per cent of the SMEs in Bangalore are located in private industrial estates and lack of adequate infrastructure hampers growth.

“Small and Medium Enterprises can’t invest in a big way, so the government should construct multi-storeyed buildings in many areas and give them to the SMEs on long-term lease.

“This way they can invest in their businesses as real estate is too costly, especially in Bangalore,” he said.

He said that estates that are under the control of government authorities are not maintained properly.

Crasta said that the concept of issuing trade licences for businesses by Brhuat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike should be done away with, as it has becoming more of a money-spinning activity for vested interests.

‘CM has no time’

He lamented that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has not given Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India  an audience even after 35 days of assuming office.

Further, his holding too many portoflios is resulting in less attention to pressing issues of economic development and investment.

On governance, Crasta said that the government should punish the corrupt and protect whistleblowers.